Foot-warmer



N. WATERMAN.

Foot Warmer.

Patented .Nov. 27,. 1855.

m. PETERS. Phulo'ljlhognpher. war-mm nc UNITED STATES PATEN T ()FETCNATHANIEL WATERMAN, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOOT-WARMER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,859, dated November 27, 1855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL WVATER- MAN, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in F Oct-Warmers; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, making part thereof, in which Figure 1,represents a perspective View of one form of foot stove, with the lidraised up. Figs. 2, and 3, represent sections through other forms ofstove, all, however, being identical in principle, and varying only inform.

Similar letters where they occur denote like parts in all the figures.

The object of my invention is to make the heat of a foot-warmer,uniform, regular, and of a greater duration; and consists, in placingthe hot water reservior, within an outer case, composed of nonconductingmaterials, on all of its sides, except that against which the feet areplaced, and which latter should be of some good conductor of heat, andcushioned, or covered with carpet, to better retain the heat, as will bedescribed.

A, represents a hot water reservoir, provided with a suitably cappedopening B, through which it may be readily filled or emptied, andhandles C, for lifting it out, or replacing it.

D, is a wooden box or case, of such form as is most suitable for itsspecial location, and made larger than the hot water vessel A, withinit, leaving a dead space E, all around between the wood, and hot watervessel. The wood and confined air combined being a nonconductor, or badconductor of heat, prevents its escape at the sides or bottom, though itmay circulate around the hot water vessel.

The lid F of the outer case, instead of being made of wood, is made ofthin sheet metal a of any kind, which is a good conductor of heat, andcushioned and covered (as seen in the drawings at G), which not onlymakes an easy resting place for the feet, but also retains the heatwhich passes through the plate a, into it.

When the foot stove is intended for a bed, the widest side lengthwise iscovered with the metallic plate, cushion, &c., as seen in Fig. 2, andthe lid may be entirely of wood. Or instead of wood, any other equallygood, non-conductor of heat may be used, the object being to isolate thehot water vessel within a nonconducting case or box, except on that sidewhich is to be cushioned or covered for the feet and to preserve a deadspace all around between the hot water vessel, and outer case by whichmeans, the heat from the water is more regularly brought to the feet,and retained for a much longer period, than by the foot stovesheretofore constructed. 7), are supports of wood, to hold the hotwatervessel, away from the sides of the outer case, thus surrounding the hotwater box on all sides but one, with two nonconducting agents viz:confined air and woodthe confined air between the water boxand conducting metallic plate, prevents the heat from passing too fast throughthe plate and cushion to the feet, making them pleasantly warm, but nottoo hot, as all other foot warmers do, and which is known to beinjurious.

The novelty and utility of the invention,

consist in the air space all around the water box, and the metallicplate at a distance from it, on the side from which the heat is taken,and its capability of dispensing its heat, a very long time, and at alow and even temperature.

Having thus fully described the nature of my invention I would statethat I am aware, hot water has been used for heating a foot-warmer, andthat foot warmers have been cushioned or covered by carpet, &c. This Ido not claim, but

YVhat I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Placing the hot water vessel within a case made of wood except on thatside on which the feet are to rest, which side is made of thin sheetmetal, and cushioned and covered as herein set forththe whole being forthe purpose of retaining the heat longer, and giving it out moreregularly to the feet, as described.

NATHANIEL WATERMAN.

Witnesses:

SIMEoN PRATT, JOHN H. SANDERsoN.

